1 full day guided and transported tour in La Rioja + a food tour and dinner on foot in San Sebastián + a museum visit and cookery class on foot in Bilbao

Dates / Availability:

Available mid-week and weekends throughout the year. The market tour in San Sebastián is not available on Sundays and Mondays. The Guggenheim museum is closed on most Mondays of the year. The cooking class in Bilbao is not available on Sundays.

Trip Summary

Our Rioja, San Sebastián and Bilbao multi-region holiday is all about food and wine under the gorgeous Spanish sun, in the Rioja region and the Spanish Basque Country. A must for every food and wine lover!

After a welcome dinner in your hotel’s restaurant in Rioja and a relaxing evening, an English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up after breakfast on day two and accompany you throughout the day. Our Spanish Tour Manager was born and bred in the region and not only will she entertain you throughout the day with fascinating historical and cultural anecdotes, she will also share with you her extensive wine knowledge. You will be taken to two wineries for tours and tastings and a traditional lunch will be served at one of these estates. At the first estate, guests will marvel at the centuries-old cellars and enjoy a private wine tasting session, whereas the second winery is more modern, offering a complete contrast. After returning to the hotel to freshen up and have a siesta, you will be taken for a tasting session of three premium Rioja wines with platters of local tapas. You will then have time to participate in the traditional evening tapas run on the famous Calle Laurel in the town of Logroño.

After a refreshing sleep and a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel. You will be transferred to your hotel in San Sebastián. Here, check into your room at Hotel Londres y de Inglaterra and enjoy a free afternoon and evening to do as you please. You may wish to relax at the hotel. Alternatively, you may prefer to explore San Sebastián independently or take a dip in the deep blue sea. In your travel pack will be a comprehensive list of recommended restaurants. We would be very pleased to reserve a table for you at any of these for dinner.

On day four, you will meet a specialist local guide for a two hour market visit and food tour as part of a small group (up to 10 people). You will be taken on a stroll through the main streets of the city centre, stopping at the traditional local market to discover the colourful fresh seasonal products which guarantee the success of Basque Cuisine. You will then taste some of the best pintxos of the city paired with delicious Spanish wines in a number of renowned local establishments. After such a decadent morning, you will have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy your lovely surroundings.

In the evening, a superb gourmet tasting dinner with drinks will be served in one the Michelin-starred restaurants that the city is so famed for.

After breakfast on day five, check out of the hotel. You will be transferred to your hotel in Bilbao. Check into your city view at the 4* Mirò Hotel Bilbao. The remainder of the day will be free for you to do as you please.

After breakfast on day six, enjoy a private 1 ½ hour guided tour of the Guggenheim museum. Your tour will be led by a qualified guide and will include information about the architecture of the Guggenheim museum and about the works on display. After such an enlightening morning, the afternoon will be free for you to do as you please.

In the late afternoon / evening, we will arrange a fascinating 3 ½ hour Basque cooking class for you as part of a small group. You will firstly be taken on a guided tour of the Azkuna Centre which was originally a corn exchange. You will then be served a glass of wine and a local pintxo before starting your class in an authentic local home. At the end of the class, you will taste your delicious creations over dinner. The class starts at 5pm and there will be maximum of 12 guests.

After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel.

Region Map

Outline Itinerary

Day One

Upon arrival in la Rioja, check into your Standard room at the 4* Hotel Viura.

In the evening, a welcome dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant, alongside local wines, water and coffee.

Day Two

After breakfast, an English-speaking guide will collect you from the hotel and accompany you throughout the day. Your tour day will comprise of:

Tours and tastings at two Rioja bodegas.

Lunch at one of the estates.

Time to relax at the hotel before the next activity.

In the evening, you will have a tasting session with tapas before being taken to Logroño for free time to participate in the famous tapas run.

You will be taken back to the hotel at the end of the evening

Day Three

After breakfast, check out of the hotel.

You will be transferred to San Sebastián by a private chauffeured vehicle.

The remainder of the day and evening will be free for you to relax and explore the city independently.

Day Four

In the late morning, enjoy a two-hour food tour in San Sebastián. You will take a stroll through a traditional market and try some of the city’s top pintxos (small snacks typically eaten in bars) paired with Spanish wines.

The afternoon will be free for you to do as you please.

In the evening, a tasting dinner paired with wine will be served in a local Michelin-starred restaurant.

Day Five

After breakfast, check out of the hotel.

You will be transferred to Bilbao by a private chauffeured vehicle.

Upon arrival, check into your Urban Double room at the 4* Mirò Hotel Bilbao. The remainder of the day and evening will be free for you to relax and explore the city independently.

Day Six

After breakfast, the morning will be spent enjoying a private guided tour of the Guggenheim museum.

The afternoon will be free for you to do as you please.

In the late afternoon / evening, we will arrange a Basque cookery class for you at a local home. There will be a maximum of 12 people on the group and you will have the chance to enjoy the dishes prepared during the class for dinner.

Final Day

After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Accommodation

Elegant Grade- Hotel Viura (4*) The Viura is a 4* design hotel located in Villabuena de Álava, opposite the mountains of Sierra de Cantabria. This hotel offers a relaxing stay in a natural and calming atmosphere. With 33 beautiful rooms [...]

Package Prices

These prices are per person excluding any discounts and include all of the package elements detailed.

Due to market volatility following the UK’s decision to exit the EU, these guide prices are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.

The package price is dependent on your specific travel dates. We are more than happy to provide you with a definitive price for your preferred set of dates.

All prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.

A £50 per person early bird discount applies to bookings confirmed and paid over 60 days before travel.

Please deduct £180 per person if you would prefer to make your own arrangements by hire car for travelling between the regions.

Special Offers

Bring friends and spend less! A discount of £200 applies to groups of four people or more who are travelling together on this break.

Low Season discounts: The quoted package price is based on travel in high season (generally April to October). Please contact us for low season prices.

Enhance your Experience/Tour Upgrades

If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.

Stay longer! Just let us know your preferred hotel and room grade, and we will provide you with the relevant supplement for extra nights with breakfast.

Additional tours and activities! We would be delighted to provide inspiration for more wine tours and cultural activities. The possibilities are endless!

Experience the region’s gastronomy. The wine regions are brimming with unique gastronomic dining opportunities and what better way to enjoy a glass than with a mouth-watering meal? We offer a variety of menus to suit every budget. Contact us for prices.

Tailor-made tour extensions. The team at Grape Escapes have travelled extensively in Europe, not just in the wine regions and can therefore recommend and arrange tailor-made tour extensions to other regions and cities, for example Paris in France or Bilbao in Spain.

Further Information

Travel to your Rioja, San Sebastian and Bilbao wine tour

Given the wide range of travel options, the package prices do not include travel to Rioja and from San Sebastian. Please contact us for further information.

About Multi Region Breaks

Further Information / To Book

To secure your booking, a 20% per person deposit is required. Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.

I just wanted to say what a wonderful trip it was last week. I cannot think of one thing negative to say about it.